Death Grips canceled at Lollapallooza

Lollapalooza canceled a Saturday performance by the notorious agit-rap group Death Grips. They were replaced in the 8:45 p.m. slot on the Grove stage by Los Angeles rock band Bad Things.

Death Grips did not show up for a festival-sanctioned after-party Friday at the Bottom Lounge. In video circulating on-line, a club representative is seen taking the stage and announcing the last-minute cancellation. “Blame Death Grips because they decided not to show up,” he says.

“They chose not to arrive in Chicago,” Lollapalooza spokeswoman Shelby Meade said of Death Grips. “Bad Things are stepping up and headlining Grove Stage tonight.”

The Northern California group, which includes vocalist Stefan Burnett, producer-percussionist Zach Hill and producer-keyboardist Andy Morin, has become notorious for its contrariness. Last year the band canceled a 30-date concert tour to complete work on its second album. Death Grips was later dropped from Epic Records when it self-released the album against the label’s wishes.

The band or its representatives could not be reached for comment. A public relations spokesman emailed later Saturday, "Management and band MIA still."

The Saturday Grove stage lineup had already been shuffled once with the abrupt cancelation Thursday of Azealia Banks' appearanace due to a throat ailment. After Death Grips dropped out, Bad Things will mark the third change in three days in the stage headliner.